Aquarist Species: Betta albimarginata
Aquarist: thopson
Species Profile: Betta albimarginata
Common Name: Strawberry Betta, White Seam Betta
Description: A small but fierce maroon and black labyrinth fish with white-margined fins that lives in East Kalimantan blackwater swamps. Their colors intensify or fade to golden-brown depending on their mood and their environment, like tiny chameleons with a limited color palette. Betta albimarginata is closely related to Betta channoides, which is stockier than B. albimarginata and doesn’t have a white margin on its dorsal fin. CARES lists Betta albimarginata as Vulnerable, but the IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Category: Anabantids
Global Region: Asia
Distribution: East Kalimantan, Indonesia
CARES Classification: Vulnerable
Aquarist Notes
Photo of aquarist's species:
Genetic Line: Aquarium Strain
Year Acquired: 2026
True walstad setup
Spawning notes:
Species Spawned: Yes
My Betta albimarginata breeding pair consists of Clifford (male) and Emily (female). They were maintained in a 10-gallon true Walstad aquarium using RO water. Clifford is the paternal mouthbrooder and held each successful brood for approximately three weeks. For three documented broods, Clifford was separated near the end of the holding period so the fry could be released and raised separately. Several additional surprise broods appeared in the parents’ aquarium between these documented releases. Clifford was first documented holding on March 13, 2026, and was observed holding again on August 16, 2026. Recorded brood counts included four fry from the first documented brood and eleven from a later brood.
Have Reared Fry? Yes
The newly released fry were first fed infusoria, followed by microworms and grindal worms as they grew. Fry from three documented broods were separated and raised in a 2.5-gallon nursery and grow-out aquarium. Fry from several surprise broods remained in the established aquarium with Clifford and Emily. The Walstad aquariums were maintained by topping up the water as required rather than performing routine water changes. Fry from multiple broods have been successfully raised beyond the early developmental stage.
Young fish available? Yes